Former U.S. President Donald Trump is forming a “Board of Peace” to address post-war Gaza, inviting leaders from Egypt, Turkey, Argentina, and Canada to participate. The initiative follows the naming of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Jared Kushner, and Steve Witkoff to the panel, with Trump serving as chair.
Trump Assembles International Panel for Gaza
Leaders were invited after a Palestinian committee of technocrats held its first meeting in Cairo, attended by Kushner and Witkoff, who have been collaborating on the issue for months.
A senior aide to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney indicated acceptance of Trump’s invitation, while a spokesperson for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated he had been asked to be a “founding member” of the board. Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Cairo is “studying” a request for President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to join. Argentine President Javier Milei wrote on X that participation would be “an honour.”
Tony Blair stated he was “honored” to be appointed to the board’s Executive Board, adding, “I thank President Trump for his leadership in establishing the Board of Peace.” Blair’s involvement is considered controversial due to his role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Trump previously stated he wanted to ensure Blair was an “acceptable choice to everybody.” Blair served as representative of the Middle East Quartet – the United Nations, European Union, United States and Russia – after leaving office in 2007.
The White House stated the Board of Peace will focus on “governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction, large-scale funding and capital mobilization.” Current members also include World Bank President Ajay Banga, financier Marc Rowan, and Robert Gabriel, a Trump aide from the National Security Council.
Trump has also created a second “Gaza executive board” with an advisory role, though it is unclear which leaders were asked to join each board. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Israeli Objections to Palestinian Committee
Israel has objected to the composition of the Palestinian committee of technocrats intended to govern post-war Gaza, calling the announcement “contrary to its policy” and stating it was not coordinated with Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed the Foreign Affairs Minister to contact the U.S. Secretary of State regarding the 15-person committee headed by Ali Shaath.
The U.S. has indicated the Gaza plan is in a second phase, focusing on disarming Hamas following its October 2023 attack on Israel. Trump recently named U.S. Major General Jasper Jeffers to head the International Stabilization Force, tasked with providing security in Gaza and training a new police force. Jeffers previously monitored a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel.
Ali Shaath, a former Palestinian Authority deputy minister, is heading the governing committee. Trump has previously suggested transforming Gaza into a resort area, but has backed away from calls for forced displacement.
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